On Kenfield Mountain near Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, two firefighters were killed during efforts to extinguish a forest fire. Subsequently, police discovered a man’s body with a firearm at the scene.

Source: The New York Times, CNN, Reuters

The incident took place during the day as firefighters battled flames on the popular hiking site, Kenfield Mountain.

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris stated that rescuers and police came under fire from a sniper using powerful rifles. The attacker was concealed in dense bushes and was well-prepared.

A SWAT team later discovered a body with a handgun nearby. Authorities do not rule out the possibility that the fire was deliberately set to lure rescuers into an ambush.

At the outset of the shooting, firefighters were pleading for help after two of them were shot. One firefighter reported they were taking cover behind a fire truck and suspected the fire was intentional.

Norris noted that officers on the scene reported shots coming from multiple directions, indicating the potential involvement of more than one attacker.

The forest fire is still ongoing, and local residents are advised to closely monitor updates from authorities and be prepared for evacuation if necessary.